barber



Sept. 10, 1963 J. L. BARBER COMBINED GOLD SEPARATOR AND AMALGAMATORFiled Jan. 11. 1962 J IMMIE L. BARBER INVENTOR.

BY M AGENT United States Patent 3,163,487 (IQMBINED GUELD SEPARATOR ANDAMALGAMATUR Jimmie lL. Barber, 12606 Oaks Ave, tChino, Calif. Filed.lan. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 165,523 1 Ciairn. (Cl. 2ii9-42) This inventionrelates to a combined gold separator and amalgamator that is soconstructed as to be easily portable and usable as a means of recreationand sport, in particular vacation areas having bodies of water withsandy bottoms as in the ocean, lakes and the like. It is well known thatin certain sections of the country there are bodies of water that areavailable to the vacationing public where the bottoms of lakes, oceans,and other bodies of water are known to contain small amounts of gold inthe sandy bottoms, which may be pumped to the surface, separated andamalgamated so as to result in a low yield of gold.

The equipment heretofore used for such a process has been quitecumbersome and expensive. The purpose of the present invention howeveris to provide an inexpensive convenient and light weight portable unitfor this purpose that will efficiently separate and amalgamate asuificient amount of gold to stimulate an interest therein as a sportand at the same time to produce results of worth while value.

Although the primary object of the invention resides in the sporting andvacation use, it is to be understood that this portable unit may also beof some commercial value as a gold reduction means.

Notwithstanding the fact that certain objects of the invention have beenset forth above, other features Will become apparent as thespecification proceeds and from the illustration in the drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a combined gold separator andamalgamator.

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the combinedseparator and amalgamator tank unit with portions being broken away; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 more indetail, the standard type of pump unit is generally designated by thecharacter 1, the combined gold separator and amalgamator by thecharacter 2, and the base member by the character 3.

The essential feature of novelty of my invention resides in the factthat due to the compact type of construction the device may be easilytransported to the site where it is to be used; the pump unit 1 and thecombined separator and amalgamator unit 2. being mounted on a base 3with carrying handles 7 detachably fastened to the sides of the base 3by clamping members 8.

When not in use the pick-up member 6 and the tubing 5 is wrapped aroundthe entire assembly, but during the operation of the device the member 6is contacted with material at the bottom of the body of water and thiswater and sand is pumped by the pump 1 through the pipe and valve 4 intothe inner coiled pipe 9 continuing through the outer coiled pipe 10 anddischarged at 10a. The coiled pipe 9, It) is provided with openings 11to allow the passage of gold containing sand and other fine materialduring the pumping operation to settle to the bottom of the separatortank of the unit 2. In preparation for amalgamation of the gold, mercuryis introduced into the tank 2 through pipe 14 and when the bottom ofsaid tank unit 2 is sufiiciently charged, the amalgamated gold may beremoved by means of the said access door 16.

During normal pumping operation, valves 4 and 17 are open and 15 isclosed. The small particles of gold are emitted through the small holesin the coiled pipe 9, 10 thus resulting in a primary separation in thecoil and a secondary separation in the tank. During a flushing operationthe greatest mass of sand and other foreign material is washed from thetank and coil system, in much the same manner as in panning of gold.When the gold particles settle to the bottom of the tank, then they maybe recovered therefrom.

Since convenient portability is an important feature of my invention itwill be noted that the pump 1 may easily be disconnected from theamalgamator unit 2 at the inlet side of valve 4, and carried separatefrom the entire unit.

With the pump removed the adjustable handle 13 may be moved to a pointaffording correct carrying balance. With the pump in assembled positionadjustable handle 13 is readjusted to allow proper balance for carrying,or the handles 7 may be used for carrying purposes instead of theadjustable handle 13. Valves 4, I5 and 17 are closed when the device isnot in use.

While I have shown and described certain specific forms of my inventionin a preferred form, it is understood that varying changes andmodifications may be made, as deemed desirable within the scope of theappended claim.

I claim:

In a pump actuated lgold generator and amal-gamator the combinationcomprising a standard portable suction pump connected by a valve andpipe to a perforated coiled tubing, the inlet end of said tubing beingconnected to the said pump by said valve and the outlet end of the saidcoiled tubing having a valve controlled outlet at the upper portionthereof, the said perforated coiled tubing being enclosed within a tank,the outlet end of said tank being provided with an access door forrecovering the amalgamated gold, and a pipe in said access door forcharging the tank with mercury, the top of the said tank being providedwith an adjustable handle, a common base for the pump and tank havingremovable handles on the sides thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS537,257 Whiting Apr. 9, 1895 1,673,675 Hanciau June 12, 1928 2,584,976Bailey Feb. 12, 1952

